Abdoulaye Doucouré sparks win for reborn Watford over Bournemouth

Eddie Howe says there wasn’t much in it till Watford scored the first goal – I’m not sure about that – and that the second half was “difficult” – I am certain about that. He says the first goal came about because of “our endeavour to do the right thing”, and that he’s not going to blame players because he never does, but the problem was the execution not the action.

He agrees that his team are conceding too many and scoring too few; they worked on attacking this week, but confidence is low. And so too is fitness; he says he has players playing through injury, and when a team goes behind that becomes a problem. Finally, he says that the responsibility is his, and it is his job to give cbeief to his players.

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So there we are. It’s still only January and Bournemouth have plenty of time to save themselves, but they need to get going because their run-in is brutal. Watford, on the other hand, are going to be fine.

Full-time: AFC Bournemouth 0-3 Watford

Four wins in five league games for Watford, who move out of the bottom three for the first time this season. Bournemouth, meanwhile, now have one win in 11 games, and unless they can find something and fast, are going down.

GOAL! AFC Bournemouth 0-3 Watford (Pereyra 90+2)

Yet another counter, Pereyra finding Gray, but Billing does really well to hold him up with a slide before Cook S clears his shot off the line ... only for the ball to rear up straight at Pereyra, who controls beautifully on his upper chest before zetzing home a murderous volley!

88 min Hinchcliffe gives Deeney man of the match. I might’ve gone Masina, who was huge when the scores were level, or Doucoure who got the first goal and has been the difference in midfield, but I can’t argue with the choice.

84 min Nice again from Watford, Deeney finding Deulofeu out side. He moseys towards the box and rolls to Doucoure, who can’t fold his go-go Gadget legs around the ball, slicing a shot that doesn’t even go out for a throw.

71 min The away end are enjoying themselves/is enjoying itself. They’re expecting more goals, and Bournemouth can’t subdue Deulofeu/ who scythes through a one-two/ with Dou/ Coure/But his shot/ isn’t true.

68 min Bournemouth get caught upfield which is not something you want to happen when the other side have Sarr and Deulofeu. And the latter drives on the counter, burrowing into the box and shooting into shins before Deeney, following up again, shoots first time. But this time, Travers is there to save.

GOAL! AFC Bournemouth 0-2 Watford (Deeney 65)

What a finish this is! Deeney drops deep and feeds a ball into Sarr down the channel; Cook S could just see him away, but instead dives in and Sarr lanks beyond him and to the line, driving a cross into legs ... only for the ball to break to Deeney, arriving onto the scene and absolutely punishing a first-time finish into the far side-netting! Bournemouth are in absolutely all sorts!

60 min This is better from Bournemouth, Fraser feeding a ball into Billings’ stride and he powers into the box. But Caopue follows him, refraining from jumping in, playground-style, in favour of running his man out of position.

56 min A long clearance sends Sarr lanking away, but the counter looks over when he slows ... only to pick a clever pass into the path of Doucoure, who goes one more for Deulofeu. He should pass back across goal, but instead slices high and wide at the near post.

54 min “This Bournemouth team has the look and feel of one at the end of its cycle,” says Stephen Carr. “When you factor in injuries and some frankly weird signings on top, you’re left to conclude - sadly - that Howe’s time is up.”

I’m not sure about that – he’s earned the opportunity to build again – but so far, this is a relegation performance. It is not unusual for a board to act in such circumstances.

52 min The corner isn’t cleared so Deulofeu clips in a cross that Deeney attacks, and though he gets nothing on the ball, he attracts men to him, leaving Sarr free! But instead of taking it down or panelling first time, he dribbles a tame shot across the face that Bournemouth eventually clear.

51 min Again,Bournemouth give it away deep inside their own half and Watford move the ball from left to centre, Sarr easily diddling Gosling with a clever shimmy and driving a low shot which loops off Ake and behind.